CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : ORANGE COUNTY : Jet Lands Safely After Engine Fails

An engine failed as an America West jetliner took off from Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, but the pilot of the Boeing 757 was able to circle back and land safely. An airline spokesman said the 157 passengers aboard the Phoenix-bound plane were never endangered and that the landing was uneventful. The pilot radioed the tower to call out airport fire crews, but the plane was able to taxi to the gate without incident. Some witnesses reported hearing a bang or small explosion just after the twin-engine jet climbed off the runway. When the pilot realized there was a problem, he shut down the Rolls-Royce-manufactured engine on the plane’s right side and banked to return for landing.